Switch for electric lamps.



[10,697,721 Patented Apr. 15, I902.

J. F. KRAYER. SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

(Application filed Mar. 10, 1899.)

(N0 Model.)

III

Inventor.

Witnesses.

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UNTTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH F. KRAYER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PEHNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 697,727, dated April 15, 1902.

Application filed March 10, 1899. Serial No. 708,615. (No model.) I

T0 to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. KRAYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches for Lamp-Sockets, (Case No. 865,) of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to sockets for incandescent lamps, and more particularly to switches for these sockets.

It has forits object to provide in such a construction a key-switch which shall have definite positions, which is capable of continuous rotation in either direction,and which when in aiinement with the supporting part of the socket will complete the circuit and when turned crosswise will break it, so that by inspection it may be known whether the lamp is turned on or not, even in case the lamp should be defective and not light. To attain these objects, I arrange a key in the axial line of the socket, the device being es pecially adapted to brackets or chandeliers like those commonly used for gas-fixtures.

Severalimport-ant ad vantages incidental to my construction are that by mounting the key on an axis coincident with that of the lamp and lamp-socket and, providinga tubular connection at the side for supporting it the movement in turningof'f and on a lamp is precisely similar to that in operating a gasfixture such as employed in chandeliers, and is more easily reached and operated with the arm extended. The socket in which the stem of the lamp is supported is in a vertical line above the operating-key, and the switch mechanism is supported in a casing below the socket and out of range of connection therewith, so that damage by short circuitsis impossible.

The invention will be better understood from the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a section showing the construction of the switch and socket. Fig. 2 is adetail in section, taken at a right angle to the section shown in Fig. 1. Fig. is a detailof a modification adapting the device to the well-known Thomson-Houston socket. Fig. 4. is a sectional plan on the line 4 4: of Fig. 1.

in place by suitable screws b,extends slightly above the center of the shell B, and as there is an opening in one side of it at b it maybe sprung over the shell 13, and with the screws Z) be held securely in place. Thus the switch mechanism is inclosed in a chamber or casing separate from the lamp socket, and access to its parts is convenient for repairs.

At the top of the structure is the socket, provided with the terminals N O,and an outer shell M, held in place by the shell M, screwthreaded into the shell B. A ring P, of insulating material, separates the shell M and the screw-threaded shell O for well-known reasons. These are the parts of the wellknown Edison socket. A plate R, of porcelain by preference, supports the terminals of the socket and insulates them from-one another. One of the circuit-wiresa b is connected to a strip N, the inner circuit-terminal N (see Fig. 2) being secured to it in any proper way. It is manifest that if an ordinary Edison lamp be inserted in thissocket the terminal N will touch the button on the base of the lamp and the shell 0 will complete the circuit through it. Screws 0 0 secure the shell 0 in place and connect it to the spindle E of the switch, which is illustrated in the middle of the figure. A yoke H is mounted upon the spindle, but insulated from it by a bushing or sleeve G. The yoke carries a contact h, with which, at h, one of the circuit-wires is connected, the contact h being insulated from the yoke. The ends of the latter project through the shell B at 7L2 7L2, so that it is held stationary. 95 The circuit is made and broken by the plate F, a detail of which is shown in Fig. 6. This is composed of insulating material molded about the contact F, the latter formed with a hub embracing the spindle E. A pin f se- ICO touching the shell B.

.. square is presented to the spring the contact F (see Fig. 6) registers with the contact h,

' (see Fig. 1,) thus completing the circuit from contact it through F and the spindle to terminal O of the socket and back through the terminal N. In the other position of the key the contact'h rests upon the insulation, thus opening the circuit. A shield 1, (preferably ofinsulatingmateriah)havingaholei,through which one of'th'e 'circuit-wires'may pass, prevents the other wire from becoming tangled in the parts of the switch. The shield I might beomitted, if desired.

To permit the snap action of the switch, the spindle E has a bushing E of insulating materiahinterposed between it and the handle E. A pin e driven into the spindle is insulated from the handle by a bushing c. This allows of lost motion between the handle and the spindle sufficient to permit the switch to snap in a well-known manner whenthe block K turns from one position to the other.

Fig. 3 shows the adaptation of the socket to the well-known 'lhomson-lIouston system. In this the center or screw terminal is lettered N and the ring-terminal O. In order to effectively insulate the center terminal from the spindle, a cup Q, of insulating material, is placed, over the latter within the I usual yoke which is employed to connect the spindle through the screws do to the ring-terminal O".

- What I claim as new, and desire-to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is-

' 1. A socket for an incandescent lamp, pro- 7 1 vided' with a holder for the lamp-base, a cas ing for the switch' mechanism, a key having its operating-stem in a line axial to the holder,

a fixed contact yieldingly mounted in a vertical plane, a movable contact rotated by the key-stem in cooperative relation to the fixed contact, and means for effecting a snapping rupture of the circuit when the contacts separate.

2. Asocketforincandescentelectric lamps, provided with a receptacle for the lamp-base, a casing connected to the bottom thereof and separable therefrom, I switch mechanism housed within the casing, a lateral pipe connection in the casing through which the current-leads may be led, and akey below the casing turning on a plane transverse to the axis of the lamp and socket.

3. Asocketforincandescentelectriclamps, provided with a receptacle for the lamp-base, a casing below the same, snap-switch mech anism within the casing, said casing being formed of separable parts to admit access to its interior, alateral pipe connection from the casing for cbnnection with a tubular bracket to house the current-leads, and a key controlling the switch turning on a plane transverse to the axis of the lamp-socket.

4. A socket for incandescent electric lamps, provided with a receptacle for the lamp-base mounted ,on an insulating-support, means thereon for effecting connection -with the lamp-terminals, a casing mechanically connected with the socket, provided with alat eral tubular connection for the circuit-leads, a switch in said casing composed of an elastically-mounted terminal, a rotatable contact cooperating therewith, a key on the bottom of the casing mounted to turn in a plane transverse to the axis of the lamp and socket, a lost-motion connection being provided between the key and the movable contact, and a spring and cam controlling the movement of the contact to effect a snapping motion on opening the circuit.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of March, 1899.

JOSEPH F. KRAYER.

Witnesses:

JULIUS KRAYER, WILLIAM T. CLARK. 

